Whiffletree hook



\ (No Model.)

N. I. REED. WHIFPLETREE HOOK.

No. 468,019. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

l vixtma/wao I G anni W130 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN F. REED, OF HYDE PARK, VERMONT, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES E. YVHITCOMB, OF SAME PLACE.

WHlFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,019, dated February 2, 1892.

Application filed September 2, 1891. Serial No. 404,542. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN F. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hyde Park, in the State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whifiletree-Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to" the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved hook; Fig. 2, a transverse sec tion thereof, and Fig. 3 a plan View of the parts detached.

In the drawings, a designates a portion of a singletree or whiitletree having its end reduced in diameter, as at a, for the reception of a metal ferrule or sleeve b, which is fitted tightly on it, so as not to turn independently of it. Formed on the inner end of this ferrule and projecting forwardly and upwardly therefrom is a radial segmental flange 12, which is provided at its ends with radial stops 1)", and which has formed in it, near one of the said steps, a radial notch 11, whose bottom is flush with the surface of the ferrule. Pivoted on a bolt d, which is screwed into the end of the whiftletree,is a swinging trace-hook c, which is loosely confined between the head of the bolt and the outer end of the ferrule and whose hook portion 0 extends forwardly and inwardly and terminates close to the periphery of the segmental flange b. This hook has a limited movement upon its pivot, the stops Z)" (which impinge against the end of the hook 0) serving to restrict its rotative movement. hen in position, the trace-hook lies preferably in a substantially horizontal position and rests normally upon the lower stop I)". The ring of the trace is readily engaged and disengaged by simply raising the hook to a position about even with the radial notch b and then turning the ring sidewise sufficiently to pass it through the notch, as shown in Fig. 2. YVhen in working position, as shown in Fig. 1, it will be impossible for the ring to accidentally work out, as is evident.

This invention will not only serve efficiently as a means of detachably connecting traces to singletrees and doubletrees, but it may also be employed with equal advantage to connect breast-chains to neck-yokes and for other analogous purposes.

The device is extremely simple and inexpensive and is not liable to become inoperative from rough usage.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim is- The combination, with a whiffletree, of a ferrule or sleeve rigidly secured thereon and provided on its inner end with a forwardly and upwardly extending flange b, said flange being provided at its upper end with an upwardly extending stop and at its lower end with a forwardly-projecting stop, a radial slot 

